Jordan Crown

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of marketing for a nonprofit called the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). We’re part of a national network that covers the Northern California region. We advise small businesses, provide access to capital, and do business training for our clients at no cost. Our program and the way we sign clients have a specific protocol assigned by the Small Business Administration (SBA), so we jump many hoops to make sure information is delivered and captured in a particular manner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jordan Crown?

Our previous website was built on Drupal, and it made sense in some ways, but everything we wanted to do with our site required a developer on the line.

When COVID-19 first sprung up, we had to cascade information from the US Treasure Department and the SBA to tens of thousands of our clients across Northern California. Our site wasn’t flexible or agile enough to accommodate that level of change, so we ended up building a small WordPress website to broadcast information out. At that point, we realized that it was time to go from Drupal to WordPress.

Another aspect of the challenge was that the government-issued CRM was like a third-party frontend interface. When clients signed up, they did so on the CRM frontend, which was a branding issue because the website looked completely different from our SBDC site. Additionally, we had about a 40% statewide drop rate on our sign forms, which was extremely high. The form also took about 18 minutes to complete and had a lot of redundant questions.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Jordan Crown helped us negotiate an API that could bridge WordPress to our CRM back-end and alleviate the need for that third-party frontend.

First, I did the design, layout, and interface, which we handed off to their development team. Our end goal was to get it live by January 2021, so it was a hairline turnaround. The project had a total of 19 websites, so the scope was huge. Jordan Crown’s team completed their portion of the work in about four months. Then, we had a lot of work on our end to work with the admins for 18 different SPDC vendors in Northern California so they’d coordinate their content for the new website and learn the new platform.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with their sales agent, Richard (Account Executive), Cameron (Owner & CEO), and Josh (Web Designer), who helped with the mobile interface and some of its UX. I’ve also worked with a couple of people who helped migrate our content, as well as one of their copywriters. Overall, I’ve worked with about 5–6 people from the Jordan Crown team.

How did you come to work with Jordan Crown?

I found Jordan Crown on a Google search. They must have been in one of the top two pages, if not the first page. We chose them because their communication was stellar. Richard was upfront and asked many smart questions to help us define some of the gray areas about our project. He even made some suggestions to sharpen the edge of our product. Therefore, they didn’t rush the process, and they made sure they understood what we were going for. That level of care for the project made them stand out from everybody else.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $250,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We kicked off the project in November 2020. We’ve actually hired them for several other projects, so we have an ongoing relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

It’s too early to calculate some of the obvious ones, such as conversion rate. However, we’ve gotten tremendous feedback from several stakeholder groups — our federal funders, the SBA, different SBDC directors across Northern California, and some of our key partners.

Also, many people have said we couldn’t create an API that tied into our old CRM, so it’s been really cool that Jordan Crown did the impossible, and we got that win.

How did Jordan Crown perform from a project management standpoint?

Jordan Crown puts a lot of extra time into making our vision a reality. We use Slack and Zoom to touch base. I even got the CEO on Slack and email. They’ve been excellent at communicating and staying on deadline across the board.

Also, they had a couple of tools that were helpful to migrate our content. One of them was called GatherContent, and they had a proprietary estimate tool to add different project aspects and build our website like on a menu, with extra bells and whistles.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Not only do they shine on the quality of their product, but they also have stellar communication. I haven’t worked with a team like Jordan Crown throughout my career, so it’s a fantastic relationship. I feel that we struck gold working with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

That’s very hard to find, honestly.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

For anyone taking on a big project or working with another team, it’s vital to have a clear definition of your project goal so you can move forward efficiently.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of marketing for Raycap, a global group of companies dedicated to producing electrical protection systems, products for infrastructure protection, and connectivity solutions for telecommunications infrastructure. We’re also focused on transportation and other energy fields.

We have three different manufacturing facilities in the US and five other facilities worldwide. We’re operating in multiple countries, primarily in Europe, North America, South America, and Asia.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jordan Crown?

We acquired a company in Charleston, South Carolina in 2019, which was an adjacent business to ours. It had its own website, so we wanted to create a website that took all of the products and solutions that this company sold, and integrate them into our global corporate site.

We also acquired another company in New Jersey, which was also making products adjacent to ours and related to what the Charleston office was producing. We had a challenge in organizing our information structure because we had so many different types of users that would come to the website.

We engaged with Jordan Crown to build a site that stayed within our brand guidelines while being informationally structured. We need it to be easy to use so people could get to where they needed to go quickly.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Jordan Crown built a custom website for us using WordPress, and they also created a number of different plugins and functionalities for it — it wasn’t built on any template.

To start this project, I created a spreadsheet containing the main product categories, subcategories, and different products that went under each category. I also provided them with the applications that each of those products went into using a matrix approach.

Jordan Crown did a nice information gathering questionnaire on the front end, and they got all those details. Then, we had meetings with our key high-level stakeholders at Raycap, and they got all the information that was required.

Jordan Crown used a program where they created the graphical look and feel of the site, and they shared the mockups with us. They used our branding guidelines to create a site that fit it in. We had particular colors, fonts, and other branding elements like those that we wanted them to use, and they successfully did it.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a group of five people from Jordan Crown. We primarily worked with a designer, who was in charge of the graphical interface, and the CEO was also involved at some point. We also worked with two programmers and a technical salesperson, who helped review the site.

How did you come to work with Jordan Crown?

I did some research online looking for companies that had high ratings and rankings. I developed a request for quotation (RFQ), and my team went through the companies and decided which ones we wanted to target, including companies that we had worked with in the past. We sent the RFQ to those companies, and Jordan Crown was one of them.

After they answered the RFQ, I put together a decision matrix and weighted each answer for how I thought they would perform based on the parameters that I set out. I reviewed the answers with my team, and Jordan Crown came out ahead. These parameters included their technical prowess, their design abilities, and the structure of the team that would be supporting us. We chose them to do this work, and we were very happy with the result.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $57,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2020, and we launched the site in early May 2021. We still have an ongoing relationship with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Jordan Crown was able to take the narrow design format framework that we gave them and create a design that really looked modern while keeping all the elements that we needed from our brand. They were able to update our site and make it look like it belonged to 2021.

They were also able to create a lot of the search functionality and other aspects of the site that we asked for. We needed to have the ability to organize our products and resources better, and Jordan Crown came through. Now, we have a very complex site that’s really easy to use, and we’re really happy with their work.

How did Jordan Crown perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed really well. We had weekly meetings, and they provided us with boards that we were able to look at and share with our upper management. We set a timeline, and they were able to stay on track.

The only reason why we may have slipped on that timeline was on our end because we have different stakeholders, and each of them wanted to have different things done. We had to make some arrangements and changes to the site at the last minute.

Jordan Crown used Trello to keep track of all of the bugs and things we wanted to change. They had a template that they used in the very beginning when they walked through the project. Everything that they offered had pricing and was listed on this template, so there were no surprises if we needed to add something later on the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Jordan Crown was a really great team to work with. They came in offering a good price, and they were always flexible and willing to do changes that we needed on time. They were quick, and their graphic design was exceptional — they were a top-notch web development company to work with.

I really appreciated their great project timeline and QA — I had a great experience working with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing they could have improved on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be really clear about what you want to do. Make sure that you put together a good RFQ, and make sure that you ask the right questions about the information architecture that you need. If there is something that needs to be added later, they’re very clear about it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of corporate marketing and communications for Superior Construction, which is a horizontal construction company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jordan Crown?

Our previous website didn’t represent us or tell our story well. It was at least five years old, if not older. It was clunky and antiquated. When I came on board, I was tasked with launching a new website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Jordan Crown helped us with the creative process. We gave them parameters such as our company colors and colors to avoid. Unlike other agencies, their team asked about what experience we wanted our end users to have upfront. They understood what we wanted to do before starting the design phase.

We wanted to launch the website prior to a big project announcement. Because of the deadline, we had to prioritize a couple of tasks. We launched the website, but their team’s making changes. They’re also hosting our website, which includes updates.

What is the team composition?

During the sales process, I worked with Richard (Account Executive). Then, Josh (Designer & Project Manager) became my primary contact. We’ve worked with two developers including Cameron (Project Architect). I’ve also talked with Joe (CEO) a couple of times.

How did you come to work with Jordan Crown?

I searched online for the best web designers. I also wanted a partner that had worked with other national contractors. Even though we’re regional, our long-term goal is to be national. We wanted a firm that could speak to a bigger audience. I narrowed our choices to three firms. After talking to each one of them, I chose Jordan Crown and I’m happy with that decision.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent in the neighborhood of $50,000. We made changes after we signed the contract. Jordan Crown was transparent and didn’t deviate much from the scope.

What is the status of this engagement?

We signed the contract in May 2019, and our partnership’s ongoing. They’re making tweaks, and I definitely see this as an ongoing relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

I don’t regret my decision to partner with Jordan Crown one bit. The new website has a contact us form. The sheer volume of submissions shows that our site’s getting a lot of traffic. Our team’s happy with the update. We haven’t completely rolled out a launch plan but we’re looking forward to the future.

How did Jordan Crown perform from a project management standpoint?

Overall, they’ve done really well. Josh is transparent. If he doesn't have an answer to my question, he finds the answer and gets back to me. Their team's responsive, so I never feel forgotten. Joe also reached out a couple of times to make sure that we were happy, which was a nice touch. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

What I loved was that their team made sure to design for our overall goals. Their team talked through the UX, the messaging, and the calls to action upfront and then started the design process. Their approach is different, which made the process better.

Are there any areas they could improve?

A little more communication could help. During the development process, I reached out to them a couple of times. They didn’t need a whole lot of information, but I do better with more structure.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I actually just recommended them. Again, it goes back to their approach. They want to learn about your company and your goals. By doing that research upfront, their team makes the process smoother.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief philanthropy officer for Childhaven, a nonprofit organization that provides a variety of services to kids and families who are experiencing a lot of adversity.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jordan Crown?

We were in need of a new website and had been talking for several years about doing a redesign After our communications director left, I decided that it would be a great time to try and take on the redesign.

The process of doing our website redesign forced us to become a lot more clear about our voice, how we wanted to talk about our work, and what our story is. We were doing a lot of rebranding and messaging in conjunction with the redesign.

We had 1–2 sessions with Jordan Crown where they actively helped us with the branding in terms of offering suggestions and recommendations.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Jordan Crown designed an entirely new website because our old one was in pretty rough shape, so they started from scratch. 

What is the team composition?

We work with Josh (Designer/Project Manager), and we also worked with Makoto (Former Designer) for the first couple of months.

How did you come to work with Jordan Crown?

One of our board members had worked with Jordan Crown and suggested that we reach out to them, so we did. We also did our own research, but the team had a good reputation, and everything we read made us confident that they could help us through the process.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $55,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in about August 2019. We’re still wrapping up right now, but the website is live.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

I’ve worked at Childhaven for three years and this is the first time I’m actually happy to tell people about our website. Our old website was not helpful. It was very outdated and it was so hard to find information.

I’m excited to tell people about our website and  I’m confident that they can find what they’re looking for. The feedback from staff and board members has been positive; everyone has been really impressed.

How did Jordan Crown perform from a project management standpoint?

They have done a great job. Jordan Crown tried to find the balance for us between pushing and being patient since we were also doing branding work. 

There was one point in time when they were being too patient, and I told them to tell us if and when we were going to be behind schedule, which they ended up doing.

The team is wonderful to work with and really good with project management. They are in communication with us every step of the way. In fact, we have weekly calls with them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m not a communications expert at all, so I felt like I was coming in blind. Jordan Crown was fantastic, and they didn’t make me feel stupid or make fun of the questions I had.

They are great at giving explanations, going into detail, and offering advice. The team is also good at presenting information to us while being open to our influence as well. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There was only the one time where I asked them to push us harder in terms of timelines. Even then, I understood that they didn’t want to push too hard. But once I gave them permission, they did exactly that. Otherwise, I wasn’t unhappy with any of the work they did.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We weren’t strict with our timeline at first. Everything clicked when we told them that we wanted to have the website done by a certain deadline and asked them if it was feasible. Having a hard deadline was very helpful.

The team was great at adjusting the timeline and telling us which periods could be more flexible and which ones would take longer no matter what. I would advise potential customers to have a hard deadline and then work with Jordan Crown to knock out the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

The organization is an engineering firm, called Northwest Hydraulic Consultants, and we specialize in water resource engineering. I’m the corporate marketing manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jordan Crown?

We had a pretty outdated website that was built on an old platform and didn’t view well on phones or smaller screen sizes. Our original intention was to redesign the site and move it to a more modern platform in order to enable it to be a little more user-friendly.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They kicked off the project by walking through a design process with us that involved looking at our existing site and the amount of content we had, taking a look at our branding and then planning out wireframes for how we could design a site that updated all of that and kept what was important while bringing a really fresh look to it as well.

We wanted to make our site a lot more interactive and visually focused so that people could navigate the site without having to scroll through pages and pages of technical content to find what they needed. 

What is the team composition?

Our project manager, Josh (Web Designer, Jordan Crown), was with me from start to finish. As we worked through design and development, we also worked with a team lead on both of those sides as well.

How did you come to work with Jordan Crown?

We wanted to work with someone that was local to the pacific northwest, so I started doing a lot of research online and actually found Jordan Crown on Clutch. From there we narrowed it down to three firms, and they were our final choice.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost ended up around $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from August 2018–February 2020. The only delays to the project were on our end. We had some organizational changes to our internal team. In addition, we began the project with the intention of reusing a lot of our existing content, but once people saw the new designs they reconsidered and decided to completely recreate the content from scratch. That greatly expanded the scope, which caused the project to take longer than we expected.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Since the website just launched, we are getting feedback from within the company right now. Everyone is very excited about how things look and function so far, and we are really optimistic about the reception it will receive as we continue to roll it out to the public.

How did Jordan Crown perform from a project management standpoint?

Because we worked together for so long, we really were able to develop a great relationship with them. Josh was a great project manager and was always patient and flexible with us, which really helped to keep things on track, even when we were having delays.

Our communication mostly took place online, through either Zoom or phone calls, and they went over any questions they had for us and gave us the opportunity to address any issues or requests that we had on a regular basis.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Throughout the first few meetings that we had, they instilled a lot of confidence in us about their capabilities. Their team laid out a process that made much more sense than what I had experienced previously. Despite the delays, what they said proved to be true and the experience as a whole was much better than what I had experienced previously.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing in particular. I was always impressed with how they responded to the difficulties and requests that came up throughout the project.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ask a lot of questions. They mapped the process out in advance, but you have to continually revisit that and make sure you understand the next steps and how things are linked and related.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of creative services at The H Chambers Company, an architecture and interior design firm that focuses on private clubs like country clubs, yacht clubs, golf clubs, and more.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jordan Crown?

We have a very high-end clientele to whom we deliver a high-end product. Our website didn’t reflect the quality of our work, our prestige, nor our strong brand standards. It last was updated 10–12 years ago, and we needed Jordan Crown to update it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our previous website was an old HTML hardcoded website which we would use Dreamweaver to update. It had no mobile platform, and we were really behind the times. We had incredibly valuable content on which we still received compliments, so it needed to be carefully ported to a new platform.

They completely rebuilt our website from the ground up, transitioning the site to WordPress. Listening to our wants and needs, they captured our general direction and our recent brand refresh. This involved changing typefaces, color schemes, and more on the new site.

Also, they integrated our portfolio into our website. We rely upon our digital portfolio, showcasing our designs and architecture work to bring in new clients. They made this interactive on our site and made it much less cumbersome to view. 

What is the team composition?

We had a sales and marketing person as our initial contact, and from there we worked with a project manager as our main point of contact. There were three people behind him, including a lead graphics designer and a lead coding developer.

How did you come to work with Jordan Crown?

We’re located in Baltimore, and have a national presence. We wanted to find someone in Baltimore and did a Google search to make a shortlist of 3–4 firms.

After talking with the firms about our needs and wants, we had a really good feeling with Jordan Crown. We could tell they clearly had the technical capabilities, and they also had a personality that we felt would be great to work with.

How much have you invested with them?

Our initial investment was around $50,000. We ended up spending more after a little scope creep, with the total cost in the $55,000–$60,000 range.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between April–October 2018. We soft-launched in August and did QA/QC work until October when we officially went live.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

While I don’t have any hard data, we definitely receive lots of compliments. Our old site received compliments still, so we thought people would be resistant to change, but we’ve had a really positive response.

From an internal perspective, the new site made a huge difference with efficiency. It has made it easier to rotate content, make updates, and promote videos. Our capabilities are shown in a much better way.

How did Jordan Crown perform from a project management standpoint?

They have a great team. There were some hiccups along the way, and we had a little scope creep as we interpreted things differently. But, they were very willing to work with us and pivot when needed. They’re easy to work with, and kept us on track and on task.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their customer service and their company culture were outstanding. They were receptive to our thoughts and really listened to what we wanted in order to ensure that we were happy. I can’t ask or more than that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It took longer than anticipated to do QA/QC and work through the bugs. But, we weren’t in a rush so it wasn’t the end of the world. They worked with us and were willing to extend past their initial timeline as I was very nitpicky making sure the site was perfect.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would completely endorse Jordan Crown and recommend them to anyone looking for a website. Make sure you’re clear with your expectations and intents from the beginning, and you’ll have a great experience.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing director for an IoT-enabled company that provides both hardware and firmware that drives connectivity solutions for companies around the world. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jordan Crown?

The first challenge was to modernize the toolset when it comes to web assets. We needed our platform to be robust and scalable. Previously built using Squarespace, the site needed a more customized foundation. We also wanted to drive more traffic to the site that would be more likely to convert using this solution than old ones.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created a customized WordPress site from scratch that would allow us to scale more easily. Squarespace is great for smaller companies, but we were reaching a point where we needed something more.

The functionality was pretty basic, although they did include some custom module templates that were specific to our design principles and overall objectives. Those weren’t standard templates on the platform. In their work, it was also key for them to provide custom elements that translate to live products. 

What is the team composition?

Josh (Designer & Project Manager, Jordan Crown) was our main point of contact. There were 4–5 people assigned to our account.

How did you come to work with Jordan Crown?

They did a pitch for another organization that we belong to. I witnessed and participated in that pitching process and liked what they had to offer. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $25,000–$35,000 on their services. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2019, and the main aspects of the project were completed in October 2019. We still have an ongoing service contract with them, in case we run into issues with the solution.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Website utilization rates and traffic count are both up since we started working with them. Bounce rates are also down, so all the critical metrics are pointing in a good direction. The site looks much better and reflects our brand quite well. Our team is happy with it, and we’ve received positive feedback so far. 

How did Jordan Crown perform from a project management standpoint?

They stuck to our budget and always communicated the impact of making changes to the product. They were more than forthcoming with how timelines would be adjusted if we requested adjustments. Overall, they delivered on time. 

Communication was generally impressive. There were a few times that it may have been helpful to hear from them more to ensure that tasks didn’t go off the rails. Increasing the frequency of engagement with clients may help them maintain momentum as well as monitor project timelines. They have a proprietary project management tracking portal that they used to keep us in the loop. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They had ideal base organizational skills when it comes to completing the project according to timelines. The tools they present to clients are effective, clear, and straightforward. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

It may be helpful to have another tool to better translate content from the client to the vendor. That could be an area of improvement for them. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They air on the side of caution, so it’s good to let them know if you want all of the bells and whistles. Dig into their options to find those opportunities because they may not present those to you upfront. That’ll help you understand your options. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the marketing communications manager at Gamut360 Holdings, a construction builder of luxury townhomes in the Seattle metro area.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jordan Crown?

We wanted to redo our website, which was outmoded both functionally and aesthetically.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, we held onsite meetings to discuss our needs and budget. It was a collaborative process where we went back and forth on wireframes and suggestions. After deciding on an overall tone and aesthetic, they provided a number of options for us, which we finalized into a finished product on WordPress.

The process was quite iterative because our partners frequently requested changes. One of the site’s features is a mapping functionality where potential homeowners could locate a site for a house.

What is the team composition?

I worked with three people. The team consisted of an account manager, a project manager, and a frontend developer. Even Joe (CEO, Jordan Crown) got involved at times to make sure that everything was moving smoothly. I served as the intermediary between them and my company.

How did you come to work with Jordan Crown?

I shortlisted three companies, and Jordan Crown was my top choice. They weren’t the cheapest option, but after seeing their website—and their Clutch profile—I was impressed by what they had to offer. They were also familiar with our industry and seemed to have the best handle on our unique needs.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent a little over $40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working in May­–June of 2019 and the site launched in November of that year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

The site’s performance on Google Analytics has been very high. I’m seeing a significant increase in traffic, and the average duration of users’ site engagement has also gone up. In comparison to our old platform, the new site is extremely easy to navigate—for both administrators and users.

How did Jordan Crown perform from a project management standpoint?

They were excellent. They held your hand through certain steps that you weren’t familiar with, but they knew when to take control of the process. They always came with ideas, and were quick to deliver when I needed something done right away.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their project management skills were fantastic. Their professionalism is unprecedented. They really know what they’re doing, and they’re able to make the client look good.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not that I can think of. The site looks awesome, and they struck the delicate balance of knowing when to step in.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you’re thinking of working with Jordan Crown, just tell them what you want, and they’ll listen intently to your needs before coming back with a game plan.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the regional communications consultant for an employee benefits insurance broker.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Jordan Crown?

We were working with a client to develop a custom, branded benefits portal. We needed a partner to develop an online content hub for employees to access their benefits information.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Jordan Crown developed a website for our client, which allows their employees to view information. First, their team directed our client through the discovery phase. They helped the client articulate their vision for the platform including the look, feel, and functionalities. Their team also helped us to advise our client on best practices. They ensured the website was scalable, which enables our team to offer the platform to other clients as well. Their team performed all the technical work—front and backend. They managed product launch, handling administrative tasks to guarantee the process went smoothly. Jordan Crown provided a map of uncharted territory to our team. They developed a new service that we can offer to clients.

What is the team composition?

We worked with three people. Richard (Account executive, Jordan Crown) set up the process and made sure our statement of work (SOW) included all the necessary details from our client’s perspective. We also worked with Josh (Designer and project manager, Jordan Crown) who held our hand throughout development. He provided a skill set that we didn’t have on our team, which was great to be able to offer to our client. Kyrsa (Web developer, Jordan Crown) managed product turnarounds quickly.

How did you come to work with Jordan Crown?

A previous colleague recommended Jordan Crown. Their team worked on a campaign for a different insurance carrier, so they were familiar with our industry. We valued their comfort in working with people that weren’t tech-savvy as well as their familiarity with content we would host on the platform. This experience also helped this process more quickly.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $35,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began the project in April 2019 and launched the website in July of that year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve seen really good engagement with the website. Our traffic is low because only employees and their spouses can access the platform. But we’re seeing that unique users have already exceeded our client’s employee headcount. With the platform, our team can better advise our clients. We’re able to assess what topics our client’s employees are spending time browsing, which helps us make better recommendations on different projects to market specific benefits. Now that we have analytics, our team can anticipate users’ needs.

How did Jordan Crown perform from a project management standpoint?

Overall, they did great. During our project, they experienced staff turnover. We didn’t feel any turmoil, but the timeline was a bit longer than we anticipated. Jordan Crown was clear with their expectations. They also made unfamiliar topics accessible. Our team appreciated their experience working with a different large insurance benefits provider. Jordan Crown managed the project well. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their overall partnership was most impressive. Jordan Crown felt like they were part of our team. We felt that their team invested a lot of time in understanding our client and their brand. During this project, we trusted Jordan Crown as a partner. The collaboration was really successful.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not at this time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

No, I can’t think of anything that could make collaboration smoother. Jordan Crown provides a clear discovery call to understand client requirements.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the senior manager of web and creative services at a nonprofit special interest group.  

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Jordan Crown?

Our company had a site that utilized a Sitecore CMS, which required constant updates from the engineering staff in order for the marketing team to make minor changes when needed. We engaged Jordan Crown to migrate our content to a WordPress platform to allow for easier edits and maintenance.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted the ability to maintain the site without relying on the engineering team. Furthermore, we wanted to add more dynamic features that allowed us to leverage WordPress features and plug-ins.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

My team researched a few firms in the area and narrowed our list down to two. Once we met with Jordan Crown, we made an instant decision to move forward with them based on their past work and experience.

Describe the project in detail.

We followed the standard process of kick-off, sitemaps, wireframes, mock-ups, backend development, frontend development, and training. In addition to the site migration, Jordan Crown updated the UI with custom navigation elements and forms. They were quick to identify scope creep and make appropriate adjustments to find something realistic for our needs.

What was the team composition?

Several members of their team worked in coordination with developers on our end.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We consider the project a rousing success because we launched on time and stayed within our budget. We’ve received tremendous feedback from internal stakeholders and the end users of the site.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Our two teams worked in constant communication through Slack, email, and regular check-ins.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I am a big fan of their calm demeanor, high skill level, and willingness to help.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, everything ran smoothly.